Houska Castle (Czech Republic) – photo, mysticism, history and legend, map 2021
Among dense forests and picturesque gorges, on one of the impregnable high cliffs, stands the Houska Castle, shrouded in mystical legends and mysterious stories. It is located in the Czech Republic, 65 km from its capital. This place attracts thousands of tourists who are interested in mysticism and the paranormal. Under the castle there is a well, at the bottom of which there are underground passages, one of which leads to the gates of hell. Only once did a prisoner go down there, for which he was promised freedom. How this adventure ended, read in our article.
History of Houska Castle
The history of the castle dates back to the end of the 9th century, when Prince Slavibor built a wooden castle for his son Gousek on the site of the existing building. Since then, this name has been firmly attached to the castle, although many owners have changed in it over the centuries. The years did not spare the wooden buildings, and in the 13th century, at the behest of the King of the Czech Republic, Přemysl Otakar II, the Houska castle was rebuilt. During the Thirty Years' War, the building was partially destroyed, and after it ended, the Gothic building was reconstructed in the Renaissance style. Over the long years of its existence, the castle belonged to respectable and well-known gentlemen in their time: the Wallensteins, the noble Czech-Moravian family Kaunits, Countess Andrássy and Princess Hohenlohe.
The new owner of the castle in 1924 was Josef Szymonek, who was then the president of the Skoda automobile factories, in order to use this area and the building as his own summer residence. When the Second World War began, separate parts of the German army were located in the Houska castle. After the end of the war and the formation of socialist Czechoslovakia, this building was nationalized and given over to the archives of the state library. After the fall of the totalitarian regime in the 90s, the Houska castle passed into the hands of the previous owners, who by the new millennium had carried out a number of restoration works and prepared it for tourist excursions.
Tourists from all over the world are attracted here by mysterious legends that the castle was built on a rock in order to prevent demons from escaping from the gates of hell, which once opened under this rock a long time ago. In confirmation of these incredible events, there are texts of Czech chronicles of the 6th century, one of the authors of which, V. Gaek, in a letter to his brother, told about an incident that happened to him near the town of Houska. Moving through the forest, Vaclav heard an unusual crack and immediately saw how evil forces began to get out from under the rock, turning into wild animals and scattering through the forest.
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Legend of the bottomless well
From mouth to mouth and from generation to generation, the legend was passed that there was a bottomless well under the castle itself. At its bottom there is a labyrinth of underground passages, one of which leads to the gates of hell. No one knows how to get there, but no one has tried to do it. Only once the owners of the castle decided to find out this secret. Which of the owners ventured into such an adventure, the story is silent about this. They decided to use for this purpose a criminal sentenced to death. Instead of a dangerous exploration of the castle dungeons, the suicide bomber was supposed to get freedom.
Inspired by such a tempting offer, the convict agreed and sank to the bottom of the well. But, not even a few steps away, he desperately screamed, demanding that he be immediately pulled to the surface. When the criminal was upstairs, everyone saw with horror his face twisted with horror and his hair suddenly turned gray. The man was out of his mind and kept repeating that he saw the devil in hell, and a few days later he suddenly died. Frightened residents of these places began to throw stones at the terrible well, unsuccessfully trying to fill it up. However, the stones fell down and disappeared into the infernal hole. It took the then owner of the castle Wartenberg three years to finally wall up the mysterious well. For greater reliability, a chapel was built on the site of the well, which is still considered one of the most mysterious chapels in Central Europe.
Inexplicable and mysterious phenomena are observed on the territory of Houska Castle even today. From time to time, a large number of birds die near its walls for inexplicable reasons. Many animals avoid these places, and dogs stubbornly ignore the orders of their owners and do not enter the castle grounds. Quite healthy people in the chapel feel unwell, and some visitors even faint.
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Mysteries of Houska Castle
Sometimes terrible voices, wild cries and plaintive groans are heard from the hellish well. Scientists are trying to explain these mysterious phenomena by the presence of the radioactive element radon, found in large quantities in the soils of this area. However, no one denies the paranormal phenomena existing in the castle. Therefore, from time to time, researchers studying unexplained facts work here.
There are plenty of inexplicable moments in this mysterious place. Based on the place where the Houska castle is located, it is difficult to understand why it was built. Its location on a rock among forests, far from water sources, busy roads and settlements does not fit in with rational calculation. Even if we assume that its purpose was to protect the function, then questions arise here.
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The location of the walls and towers of the building is designed in such a way that they are not a defense against the enemy from the outside, but hold back the onslaught of the forces contained within. Despite the fact that the Czech kingdom was located outside the castle, judging by the chronicles, a military garrison was constantly present here. That is, something strange was guarded in this castle and they tried not to let it out. The images of the archangels Michael and Gabriel on the frescoes in the old part of the castle help to lift the veil over this mystery. Indeed, in the Orthodox faith, these archangels oppose demons. In Houska Castle, you can see the throne of the Devil and the depiction of St. Christoph, an Orthodox martyr who suffered for the faith, depicted above it. On the unique frescoes of the 13th-14th centuries, you can see legendary scenes depicting the battles of archangels with the forces of darkness.
All these images may not exist here by chance, but indicate the plausibility of ancient legends. To believe these legends or not, everyone decides for himself. But this mysterious place is worth a visit. The castle often organizes historical exhibitions, as well as interesting costumed performances. However, even today it is impossible to get into the dungeons of the castle. Maybe that's fortunate.